Let's Run A Train! Prose Edition
Looking for the Poetry Edition? It’s here:
Okay, so what started from a random thought seems to have sparked interest from quite a few of you Smutsters, so here’s what I’m thinking:
What We Will Do:
200 - 300 words (max, but also -ish. It’s not going to be strict, but expect to get a finger waggled at you if you write a 2000 word contribution. Keeping a roughly equal word count per author means no single voice overwhelms the others, and also means the final piece is a manageable length). It seems short, but as a first time, I think it’ll be good to try it out on flash-fiction length chunks. We can adjust this for next rounds.
No out-of-scene notes. Write what comes to you, feel free to leave enough clues in your prose to hint at what you would like to happen, but no leaving notes that say “I think X should happen to Y and A should bone B”. Give the author who follows you the gift of creative control.
On that same note, don’t take it personally if the story doesn’t go how you were envisaging it. Part of this will be the joy of the unexpected.
And the third part on the same theme: Have the courage to write what you want to write. We want to know what you want to happen, not what you think your predecessors in the chain wanted to happen. The previous two points were intended to give you that freedom; this one encourages you to use it.
That said, respect what’s already on the page. Creative control applies to your segment, not to others’.
Yes to: A twist that recontextualises previous events.
No to: “It was just a dream.”
How We Will Do It:
I’ll put a list up of authors who have expressed interest below, and order of writing based on any stated preferences. If anyone would like to swap, please feel free to say so, but once we kick it off, we should ideally keep swapping places to a minimum.
Each person gets 2 days to write their 200 - 300 words. I’m happy to take feedback on whether this feels too short.
Send me your parts as you complete them, and I’ll start compiling them in a post, with the contributing author clearly tagged and linked. This allows us to start seeing the story as it takes shape in a central place, and also allows me to see if there’s a delay and make arrangements. If life gets in the way, no big deal - I can reshuffle and try to slot you back in.
I’ve placed myself at the end so I can do the final smoothing edits. I promise this will be light touch and only to smooth out any obvious seams - continuity, spelling, grammar, minor transitions. I have no desire to edit out what makes your segment yours.
Who’s expressed interest so far
In no particular order, other than for P. K. Hofferman (Kinky Ink) who wanted to be in the middle and me at the end - let me know if you want a specific position. I’m happy to give up the end position if anyone feels strongly about wanting it.
That’s 9 now. At 200 - 300 words, that’s between 1800 - 2700 words.
I’ll keep this open for another 12 hours or so before final reshuffling and we kick off.
Also, I apologise if I missed anyone who’s already expressed interest - I still find the Substack interface a touch confusing. Just comment below or DM me and I will rectify.
And the prompt:
Your character(s) are on a train.
Where they are going and what they do on the way or when they get there (if they even get there) is entirely up to you.
I’m also happy to take feedback on the rules. Suggestions are very welcome, and also no hard feelings if you want to pull out (fnar fnar) - you’ll always be welcome back to the next round.
Looking for the Poetry Edition? It’s here:
Looking forward to it. I already recognise some of the luminaries! 8-)
So, who's going to write the first part?